NFL Close To Settling Concussion Suits In $765M Agreement

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody today said that the NFL and more than 4,500 former players "want to resolve concussion-related lawsuits" with a $765M settlement that would "fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and medical research." This comes "after months of court-ordered mediation," and Brody "must approve it at a later date." The settlement "likely means the NFL won't have to disclose internal files about what it knew and when about concussion-linked brain problems" (NFL.com, 8/29).

Lead plaintiffs' lawyer Christopher Seeger said individual awards would be capped at $5M for men with Alzheimer's; $4M for those diagnosed after their deaths with chronic traumatic encephalopathy; and $3M for players with dementia. Any of the "approximately 18,000 former NFL players would be eligible" (AP, 8/29).